Call for Papers: FOOD POLICY

We are interested in proposing a special issue of the journal Food Policy focused on the idea of "zero". By zero, we consider public and private food safety regulations, standards, and grades that impose an expectation of zero presence of substances like residues (antibiotics or pesticides), genetically modified organisms (GMOs), E. coli, gluten, transfats, etc. Zero tolerance of defects or production practices also has a role in food quality, and we consider this type of zero in our definition.

As stipulated by Food Policy, we are looking for "an authoritative review of current thinking and debates in a particular area of food policy, that at the same time takes these debates forward..." To this end, we want to explore the challenges of defining, detecting, and stipulating zero and the constant chase to attain perfection in an imperfect world. Possible research questions include: How does our historical or current conception of zero affect our future understanding or implementations of zero tolerance policies? What are the effects of zero on consumers, producers, regulators and the supply chain? Who is calling for zero, and who is most affected by the regulation? Why do we search for zero? How does the quest for purity differentially affect the way agents perceive the affected foods, the related production processes and value chains? What are the unintended consequences of zero? How does quality or safety change as a result of such policies?

The issue of zero does not fit squarely in a single discipline; therefore, we are looking for articles from the social and bio-physical sciences. Contributions from the humanities about the ethical implications of zero or historical perspectives are greatly appreciated. Interdisciplinary works are particularly interesting for this effort. The diverse disciplinary approaches prompt a diversity of methods to address zero. Therefore, we solicit various methodological approaches to the research questions. New conceptual/theoretical pieces, rigorous empirical modeling and insightful case studies are particularly desirable and useful for this special issue. We are also interested in analysis from the perspective of different countries and regions. In the end we intend to advance the understanding of zero and provide indicators of the future of these policies.

We are soliciting paper ideas. The papers do NOT have to be written, but we need a brief description of the paper (250 word limit), how the paper will address a selected research question, and how it advances our knowledge of zero. If you have published extensively in this area, please indicate the new contribution of your proposed paper. Upon acceptance of the proposal, we will expect completed papers within six months. If you submit a paper, we also expect that you will serve as a reviewer in the double-blind review process. The papers are to average 6000 words (including abstract, appendices, tables, etc.) with a total issue word limit of 45,000-50,000.

By September 30, 2011, please send us a brief paper description that outlines the research question, discipline, method or theoretical perspective, as well as the contribution of the proposed paper. As this is a review process, we will use your descriptions to develop the proposal and send it on to Food Policy for review. For more information on the review process for special issues in Food Policy please review: http://www.elsevier.com/framework_products/promis_misc/3031foodpol.doc.

Norbert L. W. Wilson & Micelle R. Worosz

Auburn University

Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology

(o) 1 334 844 5616; 1 334 844 5682

WilsonL@auburn.edu; mrw0016@auburn.edu

Agricultural History Society Annual Meeting, 2012: Agriculture and the State

Join the Agricultural History Society for its 2012 Annual Conference in Manhattan, Kansas from June 6-9, 2012.

Agriculture and the State: The Politics of Farming and Rural Life across Space and Time

Deadline for submissions is October 1, 2011

In view of the 150th anniversary of the Morrill Land Grant, the 2012 conference of the Agricultural History Society is not only taking place at one of the major U.S. land-grant schools (Kansas State University), but seeks to highlight the State's role in agriculture and the development of rural life. We welcome topics such as agricultural education, research, and technology; the development of agrarian ideals and improved farming; and land usage in rural settings in the United States and other countries. We invite panel sessions or individual papers from any of these areas, especially as they may apply to the role of the State and notions of progress and improvement in the construction of a better rural society and landscape.

Submit all proposals to: Sterling Evans, Program Committee Chair, Department of History, University of Oklahoma (evans@ou.edu).

Deadline for submissions October 1, 2011.

Call for Papers: AAG Annual Meeting, New York February 24–28, 2012

Call for Papers
AAG Annual Meeting, New York
February 24–28, 2012

Session Organizers: Gina Thornburg (Kansas State University) and Rachelle Beveridge (University of Victoria)

Navigating the Geographies of Food: People, Place, Culture, and Power

We seek papers using a diversity of perspectives on agrifood geographies that focus, in particular, on the people, places, cultures, and power relations in emerging hybrid networks of food production, processing, distribution, retailing, and consumption. The notion of hybridity has been used to help conceptualize the “blurring between conventional and alternative food supply systems” (Ilbery & Maye, 2005), since the “binary opposites” of so-called conventional and alternative food activities “are not as simple and clear-cut” as much discourse generated by actors in alternative agrifood movements might indicate. The interconnections arising from both alternative and conventional food activities between and within wild, rural, suburban, and urban areas have a wide range of effects across communities in developed and developing nations. Scholars increasingly turn their attention to examining, measuring, and understanding these effects.

The cultural and political ecology of human-environment relations comes to life through the subject of food. Critical questions concerning the burgeoning alternative (or hybrid) food economy may encompass the following: Who is included and who is excluded in new alternative or hybrid activities? What actors are attracted and involved in these activities? How durable are new approaches to food production, provisioning, and distribution? What cultures or traditions are being created, attenuated, revived, and/or strengthened through alternative or hybrid agrifood practices and activities? What is the role of the state and/or supranational regulatory bodies in these activities?

These sessions invite an array of methodological and theoretical approaches to the study of food and food systems at a variety of scales. Accordingly, they will examine interconnections between various actors, places, institutions, and networks related to food production, processing, distribution, preparation, retailing and marketing, and consumption, and their social, cultural, political, and environmental outcomes.

Topics might include alternative agrifood movements and institutions; shortened agrifood-supply chains; food security and sovereignty; local, regional, and global food systems; defensive localism; food availability and accessibility; food and inequality; food trade; food and public health; foodsheds; state policy; supranational and private regulatory bodies; food aid; globalization; food and development; subsistence; food identities and cultures; feminism and food; decommodification of food; alternative distribution systems; farm-to-institution; community-supported agriculture; marketing local foods; food safety and quality; traditional foods; the role of industry and retailers; farmers markets; school food; community gardens; squatters’ gardens; and more.

Instructions: If you are interested in participating in these sessions please register for the 2012 meeting and submit an abstract. Send your abstract and your Program Identification Number (PIN) to either Gina Thornburg (gkt@ksu.edu) or Rachelle Beveridge (rachelle.beveridge@uvic.ca) by Sunday, September 18.

Welcome to the Sociology of Agriculture and Food Blog!

Hello and Welcome!

This is the blog for the Sociology of Agriculture and Food Research Interest Group (SAFRIG) of the Rural Sociological Society (RSS).

On this blog, you will find a wide variety of information about SAFRIG, including updates about annual RSS conference planning, and announcements about job openings, grants, SAFRIG and RSS awards, and much more.

Enjoy!